Photo: Bernama
SEPANG: The children of undocumented migrants who are being held at Immigration Department detention centres will be moved out and placed in shelters that are safe and more conducive for minors.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said on Monday (Sept 4) that there were 1,382 foreign children aged under 18 who were currently in detention at the centres and they would gradually be moved to the shelters over time.
He said there were two categories of foreign children who were with or without guardians and they would be housed in the shelters where they would be taken care of by either their guardians or caretakers.
"Our goal is to move all the children out of the detention depot. They will remain at the shelter while their travel documents are prepared and until they are deported to their respective countries.
"The shelters which will be guarded by Rela round-the-clock to ensure the children are safe and have their welfare taken care of," he said during a press conference after launching the first shelter at the civil servants housing complex near the KL International Airport in Sepang on Monday.
The shelter which was named Baitul Mahabbah houses 23 foreign children currently.
Saifuddin said the shelter could accommodate up to 80 children and the numbers would be increased in stages.
He said the government's initiative was strongly supported by civil society groups and non-governmental organisations (NGO)
"While other government agencies are working closely with us on this initiative, we thank the NGOs for contributing mattresses and other necessities for the children. They will also volunteer their time to conduct reading and writing classes for the children," Saifuddin said.
